Automatic stage lift flowing apparatus for wells



2,010,807 AUTOMATIC-STAGE LIFT FLO-WING A'PPARATUSAFOR WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 13, 1935. A. BVOYNTON'? Filed ma 19, 1923 ATTORNEYS 2. 4. 1 i 1 1 11 11 1 a 2 i Z7 19% 7//// i i INVENTOR fllexwmer-fioynton W9 1 1 lI.1f

P 1 4 II WI m. f. \\m a l!// I F I \l\\\ 1 1 LS I Aug. 13, 1935. A; BOYNTON AUTOMATIC STAGE LIFT BLOWING APPARATUS FOR WEL Filed May 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvEgyToR file/render Boylzl ozz ATTORNEYS lmllmlr a ri- IWI 1 7/420 modification of the flowing device,

Patented Aug. 13, 1 935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STAGE LIFT FLOWING APPABATUSFOB WELLS Alexander fioynton, San Antonio, Tex, assignor to Chas. A. Beatty, San Antonio, Tu. 1

Application May 19, 1927, Serial No. 192,717 13 Claims. (Cl. 13'I111) This'invention relates to improvements in flow.- This invention is an improvement on the autoing apparatus for wells, and it consists ofthe conmatic stage lift flowing apparatus, disclosed in structions, combinations and arrangements here- Letters Patent 1,926,030 of September 12, 1933 to in de rib d d l d, Alexander Boynton and is a correlative to an- An object of the invention is to provide a flow-' other Patent 1,926,031 of September 12, 1933 also ing apparatus or device which depends for its to Alexander Boynton. The latter patent em-- operation upon the difference in gas or air presploys a plunger for carrying out the purpose of sure on the interior and exterior of the tubing the invention, as, in fact, does also the first patstring. ent mentioned, whereas the present application Another object of the invention is to provide discloses the use of aball valve, variously mountw a form of flowing device wherein the purpose of ed, for controlling the flow of pressure fluid from the invention is accomplished bymeans-of a ball one side to the other of a string of tubing. valve and resilient mounting therefor as dis- In this app i n, 118 is he Case in the first tinguished from the valve-plunger in certain copatent, as well as in some of the forms of the inpending applications. vention in the second patent, the flowing device 15 Other'objects and advantages appear in the depends upon the difference in fluids (gas or air) following specification, reference being had to pressure inside and outside of the tubing for opthe accompanying drawings, in wnich; eration. The principle employed in this and other Figure l is a central vertical section illustrating applications is the imposition of fluid under possibly the simplest form employing a ball valve, pressure upon the liquidin a well or other con- Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, tainer, causing a column of the liquid to rise in Fig. 3 is a detail section of a modification, respect to a tubing string and to cause such op- Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the slotted busheration of each of a succession of valves as to ing in Fig. 3, introduce a proper amount of the fluid into the Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of-a further lu of q d thereby t et t i mot on and modification, finally carry it to the top of the well.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the valve cage-plug or T fi pp n m n n s into conbushing of Fig. 5, siderable detaiLin explaining how the principle Fig. '7 is a central vertical section .of a further is carried. out, and while the same principle appears in the present application, the particu- Fig. 8isavertical section taken on the line l-8- lar mechanism employ is of a yp different of Fig. '7, from any heretofore disclosed. Before describ- Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line ing this mechanism, the reader should be 99 of Fig. 'l, acquainted with the tubing and casing methods Fig. 10 is a vertical section of a further modifiof raising the liquid. cation employing a ball-supporting spring' of the In one instance the fluid'under pressure is advibratory type, mitted to the well casing exteriorly of the tubing Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line string. This causes the rising of a column of ll-ll of Fig. 10, well liquid in the tubing string. In the other Fig. 12 is a vertical section of .a further modiinstance the pressure fluid is introduced into the m fication employing a non-flexible pin as the suptubing string and causes the rising of a column port for the ball valve, of well liquid in the casing. The well casing is Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken on the line not herein shown, but may be regarded as surl3-|3 of Fig. 12, rounding the tubing presently described.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on the line Reference is had to Fig. 1. The short ends of I4--l4 of Fig. 12, tubing I are to be regarded as part of a tubing Fig. 15 is a detail elevation of the spring lever string extending into the liquid of a well, the bore or non-flexible pin, of which the reader may suppose to be lined with Fig. 16 is a vertical section of a further modia casing (not shown). Connected in the tubing ,0 flcation employing a flat spring as the support for stri g is a valve b dy In Practice, numerous the ball valve, valve bodies or flowing. devices are incorporated Fig. 17 is a horizontal section taken on the line in e tubing g. t manner of u nc rll-ll of Fig. 16,, poration being fully brought out in the first Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the flat spring application mentioned. 05 and ball. A lateral enlargement l of the valve body has ber, in that it serves as the housing for a ball valve element 5 which is capableof movement between opposite ports 6 and 1 according to the flow of pressure fluid. The port 6 is formed in the wall 8 intervening between the chamber 4 and the interior or conduit of the valve body, while the port I is formed in a bushing 9 screwed into the outer wall of the enlargement 3.

A straight, preferably round, length of spring wire l0 serves as a support for the ball valve, the latter being impaled by the support and held in registration with the ports 6 and 1 by an appropriate formation on the spring wire. The formation in this instance comprises a sharp bend II. The extremities of the supporting spring wire may, or may not be pointed, as illustrated, and are received respectively in the conically formed bore I2 of a closure plug l3 and in any one of a series of recesses id in the bottom of the chamber 4. Spanner wrench holes in the top of the plug l3 provide-means for screwing the plug in or out. I

The reader will note that the conical formation of the bore l2 allows lateral movement of the supporting 'wire I0 in the region of the upper extremity thereof in order that the valve element 5 may assume the required seating position over the ports' 6 and 1. The bore I2 is of considerable depth, the secondary purpose of such depth being that the upper end of the supporting wire may be inserted in the bore prior to screwing the plug [3 home, the operator having the assurance that the wire ID will not move out of place during the screwing operation. Except for this provision, there would be no way of making sure that the upper end of the spring Ill enters the bore.

Desired adjustments of the ball valve 5 as to position in reference to the ports 6 and I are made by merely seating the lower end of the wire Ill in appropriate ones of the recesses l4. Three such adjustments are provided for in Fig. 1, butv it is quite obvious that a wider range of adjustment may be had without varying the principle. It is assumed that the readeris fairly well acquainted with the foregoing tubing and casing methods of flowing the well. With this understanding the'reader will apprehend the capability of employing the form in Fig. 1 for either method. The seating effort is supplied by the entrance of the pressure fluid at one or the other of the two ports, the seating ofthe ballvalve 5 depending upon the pressure differential inside and outside of the tubing string.

In Fig. 3, as in all subsequent modifications, such parts as'correspond with the form in Fig. 1 are identified by similar reference numerals,

without a repetition of the description. The improvement in Fig. 3 resides in the enlarging of the bushing 9 and providing it with a cylindrical projection l5 (Fig. 4) which houses the ball valve ment with the spring Ill. The screw-driver slot II is perfectly allned withgthe slot IS, the object being to enable the mechanic, inassembling the Fig. 1.

To assemble this particular type of valve, the I ball valve 5 is first placed-within the cylindrical projection l5 whereupon the plug 9 is screwed down to the position shown. The wire 10 is then passed through the slot l6 as well as the hole in the ball valve, and into the desired one of the recesses [4. The principal advantage derived from the construction in Fig. 3 is that the bypassing current of pressure fluid is confined within the limit of the chamber or projection l5, thereby causing the ball valve 5 to respond with greater alacrity than if the by-passing current had the unrestricted area to pass through as in For wells using a large volume of pressure fluid the form in Fig. 1 is satisfactory, but where the volume of compressed fluid is limited, the form in Fig. 3 represents the proper type of valve, principally because of its greater sensitiveness and capability of more delicate adjustment.

The form in Fig. 5 follows the lines in Fig. 3, in that it provides for still more delicate adjustment in case the volume of compressed fluid to be used in flowing the well is-very small. Fig. 1, as already indicated, .allows a free by-passing of compressed fluid around the ball valve 5. The form in- Fig. 3 practically limits the by-passing of such fluid to the projection or chamber l5, but in Fig.5, use is made of a bushing or valve cage plug l8 (Fig. 6) of a design even restricting the space within which the spring wire l0 operates.

This space or slot I9 is wide enough to accommodate the wire, there being a substantially central bore or chamber 2|! in which the ball 5 is operable, as already known. One extremity of the bore '20 is counter-sunk at 2| to receivet'ie correspondingly beveled end of the plug or busn-. ing 9. It is observed that the solid bottom of the bushing l8 has the plurality of holes M in which the spring wire I is variously set, as in other 7 forms previously described.

constructions in Figs. 7 and 8 permit both ends of the spring wire III to remain firmly seated upon the bases of the bore and recess l2 and II during all positions of the spring.

The coiled portion 22 furthermore provides greater resiliency than could be obtained in a perfectly straight spring wire, thus permitting greater lateral travel of the spring and ball valve 5 with less variations in spring tension than could be obtained by use of the foregoing straight wire. The modified spring therefore has the double advantage of greater resiliency in its horizontal movement, and at the same time will allow the ball valve 5 to move in a straight line between the ports 5 and I without compelling the ball to lift either up or down. Otherwise the com action is.the same as in Fig. 5, as is readily seen.

Figs. 10 and 11 again illustrate a type patterned after the arrangement in Fig. 5, the main difierence in this as well as the type to follow being in the arrangement of the spring wire In which is now known as of the vibratory type. The upper end of this wire extemds but a short distance beyond the slotted bushing 9, the lower end being firmly gripped between the adjacent ends of a pair of adjusting screws 23 at a point slightly above the recess l4 in which the lower end of the wire is seated. I

It is by means of the adjusting screws 23 the the type of 'valve in Fig. 10 ismade to serve the purposes of either the tubing or casing method of flowing the well. By properly adjusting the screws 23 the ball valve 5 is moved into proximity either with the port Ii or port 'I,-thus permitting the ball to seal-off against the seat of either port. All lost motion or free movement of the spring wire is avoided by the flrm and positive grip with which it is held between the adjusting screws. The bottom recess I4 or landing serves merely as a convenient pocket into which the lower end of the spring is placed in order that the spring may be centrally pasitioned with reference to the adjacent ends of the adjusting screws before the latter are caused to come into adjusting contact with the'spring wire.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate another modiflcation of the vibratory type. The former spring wire is now replaced by a non-flexible pin or shaft 24, flattened between points as indicated at 25 (Fig. 15), and rounded at its extremities, as shown. The flattened portion 25 is enlarged at 26 to receive the spring guide lug 21. This spring guide lug is made according to any one in a proper position relativeto the ports 5 and I by compressing the coiled springs 28 in the proper direction. The form in Fig. 12, as well as that in Fig. 10, is equally adaptable to either tubing 'orcasing methods;

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate another form of the vibratory type/in which the ball valve 5 is provided with a groove 29 around the circumference I to occupy the bifurcation 30 (Fig. 18) of the spring in which now comprises a flat piece. The

valve is regarded as impaled by the support "I (Fig. 16) inasmuch as its'furcations go through' the groove 29.

One or more-of the flatsprings l may beem ployed (the number of spring leaves depending upon the thickness of the spring material), the lower end being securely held between the adjusting screws 23. The flat spring I0 is just wide enough for an easy working clearance in the rectangular cored out springor ball valve chamber 4 (Fig. 17). It will be observed that each end of the cored out chamber is closed by a plu 3| which is of a diameter suillciently greater than the width of the passage to insure a complete and safe closure.

It is further observed that the upper end of the leaf spring I0 is partially cut-away or conthat as much as possible of the pressure di'iferen tial may become available in actuating the ball valve 5. The construction in Fig. 16 is equally adaptable to either the tubing or casing method of flowing wells.

mounting in is quite free.

Although use of a ball valve is made in the foregoing various modifications, it is made evident that a rather wide variety of mountings therefor may be employed, the main division of these being as between the bowing type in Figs.

1 to 9, and the so-called vibrating type in Fig.

to Fig. 18. In the flrst type the ends of the supporting wire H) are more or less flxed, whereas, according to the second type, one end of the accomplished when the internal and external pressuresv reach or exceed a predetermined differential.

In any case the support or mounting for. the valve 5 operates on the principle of a reed, bending or swaying as it may be compelled to do by the pressure against the valve, but returning to the original position as the pressure is relieved. To this end the support comprises a closed.

I claim:-

.1. A valve body having a chamber and a port, a valve and a wire supporting the valve .in the chamber, and a bushing screwed into position upon the body having a confronting port and slotted means respectively sustaining the valve in line with the ports and accommodating the wire, said bushing having a screw driver slot in alinement with the wire slot indicating when the wire slot is in proper position in the chamber.

2. A valve body having a chamber with ports,

' valve means located in the chamber, a resilient element having a formation for sustain ng the valve means in line with the ports, and a plug closing an end of the chamber and being adjustably mounted upon the valve body, said plug and'the opposite end of the chamber having a bore and a recess,-respectively, for the reception f of the ends of said resilient element.

3. A valve body having a chamber with ports,

. means capable of functioning as a valve locatedone of a plurality of recesses in one end of the chamber, said element having means for sustaining. the valve means in line with the ports, and

a closure plug for theiopposite end of the chamber having a conically formed bore receiving the opposite end of said element, said plug being adjustably mounted.

4-A valve body having a chamber with ports, a valve, resilient means supporting the valve, and means, containing the valve and guiding it between the ports, forming a chamber-tending to confine pressure fluid flowing through the ports thus increasing the, sensitiveness of reponse of he valve means, and being slotted to accommodate the resilient means. i

5. A valve body having a chamberwith a port, a bushing having a confronting port, a projection extending from the bushing across the chamber in turn providing a chamber restricting the passageway of fluid flowing from one port to the other, means functioning as a valve being located in the projection-chamber, and resilient means mounted in the valve body chamber extending throughthe projection and valve means and tending to hold the valve means in a predetermined position with respect tothe ports.

6. A valve body having a chamber with an intervening port, a bushing having 'a confronting port, valvemeans located between the ports, a resilient element located in the chamber and carrying the valve means, said resilient element normally sustaining the valve means in a preto the ports, and a projection ofthe bushing located in the chamber having a passage containing the valve means and being slit to receive the resilient element, said projection practically confining fluid flowing through the ports' to said passage thus rendering the valve means sensitive to small volumes of fluid. 8. A valve body having a chamber with port a spring wire lengthwise of the chamber and being mounted at the extremities of the chamber, valve means mounted upon the wire, and a cage for the valve means keeping the latter in line with the ports, and being slotted for pas sage through and free play of the spring wire.

9. A valve comprising a body having an elongated chamber and confronting ports, a valve element, yieldable means extending substantially v midway along the chamber and carrying the valve element medially of the ports in a normallyun- 10. A valve body having a chamber with ports, valve means situated in the chamber, a non-flexible non-pivoted element located within the chamber carrying the valve means in line with the ports, means at one end of the chamber providing a mounting for said non-flexible element enabling lateral movement thereof when the valve means is influenced by the pressure of fluid flowing through said ports, and resilient means bearing upon the non-flexible element from opposite sides tending to maintain the valve means in a predetermined position between the ports.

11. A valve body having a chamber with ports, valve means situated in the chamber, a non-flexible non-pivoted element located within the chamber carrying the valve means in line with the ports, means at one end of the chamber providing a mounting for said non-flexible element enabling lateral movement thereof, when the valve means is influenced by the pressure of fluid flowing through said ports, resilient means bearing'upon the nonflexible element from opposite sides tending to maintain the valve means'in a predetermined position between the ports, and means for variously adjusting the tension of said resilient means. v

12. A valve body having a chamber with ports, there being a recess at one end of the chamber, valve means located in the chamber between the ports, anon-flexible pin supporting the valve means, said pin being rounded at the ends respectively to receive the valve means and to seat in said recess, resilient means'bearing against the pin said pin having means retaining said resilient means, and adjustable means contacting the opposite ends of the resilient means.

13. A valve body having a chamber with ports, a valve, non-pivoted means supporting the valve, and means containing the valve and guiding it between the ports and being slotted to let the non-pivoted means pass through.

I ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

